Yard maintenance apparatus

ABSTRACT

A self-propelled wheel mounted yard maintenance apparatus carrying an engine to drive the unit and a working element which may be a sweeper brush, a snowplow, a lawn mower or the like. The working element is direct-connected to the engine and is adapted to be rotated to function as the apparatus is moved across a yard. The apparatus includes a pair of drive wheels mounted upon a shaft to rotate to propel the unit. A differential is carried upon a driven shaft connected to the engine and a driving shaft connected to the drive wheel shaft. The differential is free to rotate upon these shafts and when rotating freely, it does not apply any driving torque to the driving shaft. A brake is provided to reduce the rate of rotation of this differential or to stop its rotation completely and in either case, the braking action will impart driving torque to the driving shaft. The driving shaft rotates in a direction opposite to the driven shaft when so restrained by the brake. The working element may rotate in a direction opposite to the direction of rotation of the drive wheels or in the same direction of rotation by the addition of reversing gears in the mechanisms between the engine and the working element.

United States Patent Thompson YARD MAINTENANCE APPARATUS PrimaryExaminer-Edward L. Roberts 75 Inventor: David R. Thom son Den e Colo. 1p v r Attorney-Van Valkenburgh and Lowe [73] Assignee: Rental EquipmentManufacturing CO., Denver, C010. 57 ABSTRACT Notice: The portion of theterm of this A self-propelled wheel mounted yard maintenance appatentsubsequent to May 25, 1988, paratus carrying an engine to drive the unitand a workhas been disclaimed. ing element which may be a sweeper brush,a snowplow, a lawn mower or the like. The working element [22] Flled May1971 is direct-connected to the engine and is adapted to be [21] Appl.No.: 149,400 rotated to function as the apparatus is moved across ayard. The apparatus includes a pair of drive wheels l Application Datamounted upon a shaft to rotate to propel the unit. A [63]commuanon'm'pan 843,608 July differential is carried upon a driven shaftconnected to 1969 the engine and a driving shaft connected to the drivewheel shaft. The differential is free to rotate upon these [22] US. Cl.37/43 E, 15/79, iii/16.; shafts and when rotating freely it does notapply any ."l; "g ".4510 driving torque to he shaft A brake is p i e[58] d sure l f 9 f to reduce the rate of rotation of this differentialor to /50 2 2 1 stop its rotation completely and in either case, the 37/3 43 3 0/53 D braking action will impart driving torque to the drivingshaft. The driving shafl rotates in a direction opposite [5 6] Reermcesto the driven shaft when so restrained by the brake. The UNITED STATESPATENTS working element may rotate in a direction opposite to 1,492,4074/1924 Tolliver 74/1563 X the direction of rotation of the drive wheelsor in the 2,046,679 3 FUI'SIHOW 15/83 same direction of rotation by theaddition of reversing 2,194,297 1940 Drumm 1 5/83 gears in themechanisms between the engine and the 2,251,523 8/1941 Patterson...74/1534 x working elemem 2,263,722 ll/l94l Drumm 15/83 3,580,351 5/1971Mollen 37/43 E X 15 Claims, 19 Drawing Figures 10/ I02 I l O3 I07 x I I1' i loo l 108 I L I J1? "6 I 'l' E f 54 f l i 1 I :3 l f 46 a 56 R 1 lr I 72' I5 51R 47 I I 37: 1 m I 52 g I I02 F a? l .1 88' 89' f ,5

Pmmmsrm 3,758,967

SHEET 1 BF 5 IN VENTOR.

David R. Thompson Y ATTORNEYS PATENTEUSEH'BBH 3,758,967

SHEEI 2 BF 5 499 89 78 87 Fig. 3

INVENTOR. David R. Thompson Mag 4 AT TORNEYS PATENTED SEP 1 8 I973SHEEI30F5 INVENTOR. David R. Thom pson ATTORNEYS PATENTEBsEPIBmH 758'967 SHEET u [1F 5 IN VENTOR David R. Thompson ATTORNEYS PATEN-TEUSEPI a1m SHEET 5 OF 5 INVENTOR \liiiL David R. Thompson zwzzw zgvw ATTORNEYSYARD MAINTENANCE APPARATUS This application is a continuation-in-part ofmy application filed July 22, 1969, Ser. No. 843,608, which issued asUS. Pat. No. 3,579,702, on May 25, 1971 to claim subject matterdisclosed but not claimed in that patent and to disclose and claimadditional subject matter.

This invention relates to self-propelled yard mainte nance apparatus andmore particularly to yard maintenance apparatus which includes a powerdriven working element such as a sweeping brush, a snowplow or a lawnmower.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a novel and improvedself-propelled yard maintenance apparatus having a motor which may beset to run at an optimum speed to drive the working element of theapparatus, that is a sweeping brush, snowplow auger or lawn mower reelat full speed and at the same time to propel the apparatus at a selectedvarying speed which may be controlled by the operator.

The invention is especially suitable for using as a powered sweeper anda sweeper will be described herein as a preferred embodiment of theinvention. The ordinary sweeper consists of a short, wheel-mounted bodyhaving a handle extending rearwardly and upwardly from the body so anoperator may guide the sweeper across a lawn or yard. The sweeper bodycarries a cylindrical brush arranged to rotate to throw debris such aslawn cuttings and leaves into a basket carried behind the body andbeneath the handle of the sweeper. The sweeper is powered by an enginewhich rotates the brush at a selected maximum speed and the drive wheelspropelling the unit at another varying speed controlled by the operator.

The present invention may also be incorporated into a snowplow whereinthe engine on the unit rotates the snowplow auger at a selected maximumspeed and the drive wheels propelling the unit at another varying speedcontrolled by the operator. Further, the invention may be incorporatedinto a lawn mower where the motor drives the lawn mower reel at aselected maximum speed and the drive wheels, propelling the unit, atanother varying speed.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel and improvedpowered driving system for a sweeper, snowplow, lawn mower or like unit,having a motor which is capable of rotating the sweeping brush or otherworking element at a comparatively high rate of speed to efficientlypick up debris, throw snow or mow a lawn, while at the same timerotating the drive wheels of the unit at slower and variable speedswhich permits the operator to walk behind the unit at an easy pace as itmoves across a lawn or along a walk.

Another object of the invention is to provide, in a motorized sweeper orthe like, a novel and improved drive system which is capable of rotatingthe sweeper brush or other working element at a fixed rate which will bethe most efiicient speed of the engine, and at the same time, capable ofrotating the driving wheels at a slower and varying rate to permit anoperator to control the forward speed of the unit and especially, tomove the same forwardly at slow speeds when the brush or working elementis sweeping up large amounts of debris.

Another object of the invention is to provide, in a motorized sweeper orthe like adapted to rotate a sweeper brush or working element at a fixedrate, a novel, improved and simplified variable-speed drive system formoving the sweeper forwardly at varying rates of speed, make turns orstop, all without affecting the rotation of the sweeper brush or workingelement.

A further object of the invention is to provide, in a motor-driven,pusher-type sweeper, a simplified and improved transmission in the drivesystem which may be operated by simple, manual controls which, ifreleased intentionally or accidentally, will cause the sweeper to stopits forward movement.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a novel and improved motordriven sweeper, snowplow, lawn mower or the like, which isneat-appearing, simple, compact, economical, rugged and durable, andeasily operated by anyone capable of operating a motorized lawn mower orsimilar equipment. As such, the units constructed according to theinvention are especially useful as rental and commercial equipment.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, my present inventioncomprises certain constructions, combinations and arrangements of partsand elements as hereinafter described, defined in the appended claims,and illustrated in preferred embodiment by the accompanying drawing inwhich:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation view of the improved sweeper which will beherein described as a preferred embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the sweeper shown at FIG. 1, but with aportion of a cover plate being removed to show parts otherwise'hiddenfrom view.

FIG. 3 is a sectional plan view as taken substantially from theindicated line 3-3 at FIG. 1, but on an enlarged scale.

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal offset section as taken from the indicated line4-4 at FIG. 3, but on a further enlarged scale, and with plate portionsbeing broken away to show parts otherwise hidden from view.

FIG. 5 is a longitudinal section as taken from the indicated line 5-5 atFIG. 3.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary sectional detail of an adjustment screw as takenfrom the indicated line 6-6 at FIG. 2, but on an enlarged scale.

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary sectional detail of the transmission unit astaken from the indicated line 77 at FIG. 4, but on a further enlargedscale.

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary isometric view of the several control membersfor the transmission unit.

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary sectional detail, as taken from the indicatedline 99 at FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is a diagrammatic isometric view of the driving system for thesweeper, with arrows indicating the respective direction of rotation ofthe several components.

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary, sectional detail similar to the arrangementshown at FIG. 9, but illustrating a modified form of the constructionthereof.

FIG. 12 is a side elevation view, similar to FIG. 1, but depicting theinvention as being embodied in a snow plow.

FIG. 13 is a top plan view of the snowplow shown at FIG. 12.

FIG. 14 is a sectional plan view as taken substantially from theindicated line l4-14 at FIG. 12, but on an enlarged scale.

FIG. 15 is a longitudinal offset section as taken from the indicatedline 1515 at FIG. 14, but on a further enlarged scale and with plateportions being broken away to show parts otherwise hidden from view.

FIG. 16 is a fragmentary sectional detail as taken from the indicatedline 16-16 at FIG. 14, but on an enlarged scale.

FIG. 17 is a fragmentary sectional detail as taken from the indicatedline 17-17 at FIG. 14, but on an enlarged scale.

FIG. 18 is a diagrammatic isometric view of the driving system for thesnowplow, with arrows indicating the respective direction of rotation ofthe several components.

FIG. 19 is a fragment of a diagrammatic isometric view of a drivingsystem which is similar to FIG. 18, but which illustrates the use of alawn mower reel to adapt the driving system shown at FIG. 18 for a lawnmower.

In the subsequent detailed description, the invention' will be firstdescribed in its embodiment as a sweeper, which is shown at FIGS. 1 to11.

Referring more particularly to these FIGS. 1 to 11, the improved sweeperis a wheel mounted, motorized unit having a comparatively short, widebody B with a handle H extending rearwardly from this body so that anoperator may push and guide the sweeper ahead of him as when moving itacross a lawn or yard. In the following description, the componentsforming this sweeper will be described as being oriented longitudinallywhen they lie in the direction of movement of this sweeper ortransversely when they are transverse to the direction of movement.

The body members of this sweeper, consisting of plates and beams,combine to form an integrated framework with the primary member being atransversely disposed beam 20 at the central portion of the body.Accordingly, the body may be described as having a forward section and arear section. The forward section is formed as a box-like, compartmentedstructure extending forwardly from the center beam 20 as hereinafterdescribed. This forward section is somewhat shorter, transversely, thanthe length of the beam to provide spaces for a pair of drive wheels 21,each of which is mounted at a side of this forward section. The rearwardsection is formed as a pair of longitudinally disposed arms 22, each ofwhich extends rearwardly from an end of the central beam 20, at one sideof the body. Thus, the arms provide for an open, yoke-like section atthe rear of the unit. These rearwardly extending arms are projectedupwardly at their rearward portion as at 23, and provide an inclinedsocket opening 24 at their top to hold rearwardly, and upwardly,extending side bars 25, of the handle H, as illustrated at FIG. 2. Thesebars, in turn, carry a transverse gripping bar 26 at their rearwardends. The wheels supporting this body include the drive wheels 21 ateach side of the forward compartment and trailing wheels 27 supportedupon caster swivels 28, each of which depends from the rearward end ofan arm 22.

This framework carries the several operative components of the sweeper.An engine M, preferably a gasoline driven engine of any conventionaltype suitable for the purpose, is mounted upon the deck of the forwardsection of the frame while the drive system, which includes shafts,sprockets and differential controls as hereinafter described, is locatedwithin a compartment in the forward section. A transversely disposedsweeper hood 30, carrying a rotatable, cylindrical sweeper brush 31, isswingably mounted in the rearward yoke portion of the frame, that is,between the rearwardly extending arms 22. The shaft 32 of the sweeperbrush, FIG. 3, is operatively connected to the drive system so thesweeper may rotate to pick up debris and throw the same rearwardly fromthe machine. To receive such debris, a basket 33 is suspended from therearward end of each frame arm 22 and from each side bar 25 adjacent tothe rear gripping bar 26.

The controls for this apparatus will include any suitable, conventionalthrottle means, not shown, to regulate the speed of the engine, and atransmission drive control to regulate the forward speed of the drivewheels regardless of the speed of the engine. The handle 34 of thisdrive control is located at one side of the gripping bar 26 and connectswith a pull cord 35 which is housed in a sheath 36 mounted alongside aside bar 34 and upon an arm 22. This cord 35 extends from the sheath andconnects with a control wheel 37 mounted on the outstanding end of ashaft 38 in the forward section as hereinafter further described.

The forward section of the body B, a box-like unit, is divided into aright hand and a left hand compartment by longitudinal ribs 40R and 40Lat each side, and a rib 40C at the center of the section. These ribsextend forwardly and over the beam 20 and from a transverse wall portion41 upstanding from the beam. The front and underside of the compartmentsare closed by a cover plate 42 while the top of the section is closed bytwo deck plates 43R and 43L, one over each compartment.

In the illustrated embodiment, the engine M is mounted upon the deckplate 43L over the left side compartment. However, the drive shaft 44 ofthis engine overhangs the right side compartment to connect with a pairof transversely disposed, parallel transmission shafts within the rightside compartment, a wheel drive transmission shaft 45L-45R and a brushdrive transmission shaft 46. These two transmission shafts are carriedin bearings 47 in the right, outer rib plate 40R and in the center ribplate 40C, the wheel drive transmission shaft 45L-45R being near thecenter of the right hand compartment and the brush drive transmissionshaft 46 being near the rearward edge of the compartment. To effect theconnection, the engine drive shaft 44 and the transmission shafts 45Land 46 carry sprockets 48 and are connected by a chain 49 as in themanner clearly illustrated at FIG. 5. To accommodate this chain, thedeck plate 43R includes an opening adjacent to the central rib plate 40Cand the chain and sprocket of the engine drive shaft, above the deck,are enclosed by a hook 50 upstanding from the deck plate.

The drive wheels 21 are mounted upon a transverse shaft 51L-51R whichextends through openings in the ribs near the front end of the forwardsection and is held in position by bearings 52 in the outer rib plates40L and 40R. The drive wheel shaft 51L-51R is divided into two portionswhich are interconnected by a differential 53. This differential, aconventional unit as hereinafter described, permits one wheel to rotatefaster than the other when the sweeper is moving about a turn.

The wheel drive transmission shaft 45L-45R, which is adjacent to thewheel shaft SlL-SIR, is likewise divided into two portions, a drivenshaft 45L and a driving shaft 45R which are interconnected by adifferential 54 similar to the differential 53. The driven section 45Lis connected with the engine M, as above described. The driving section45R connects with the wheel drive shaft differential 53 by a sprocket 55on the shaft 45R, a sprocket 56 affixed to the differential 53 and witha chain 57 interconnecting the sprockets.

The difierentials 53 and 54 are similar in construction, but thedifierential 54 is combined with a brake 58 to function as atransmission control as will be described. The differential 54,illustrated in section at FIG. 7, is formed as a cylindrical housing 59with the two shaft sections 45L and 45R extending into bearings 60 inaxially centered passageways at opposite sides of the housing. Eachshaft section terminates within a compartment 61 within this housing andtherein carries a bevel gear 62. The bevel gears 62 are, in turn,interconnected to complimentary idle bevel gears 63 which are mountedupon radial shafts 64 secured to the transmission housing.

The structure of the differential 53 on shafts 51L and 51R may besubstantially identical to that above described. The action of thedifferential 53, to permit one drive wheel to rotate ahead of the other,is well known and need not be described. However, the action of thedifferential 54 and the brake 58 to function as a transmission controlis now described. 6

When the driven section 45L of the transmission shaft is being rotatedby the engine M at a substantially constant rate, the rotation 'of thedriving section 45R and the speed at which the drive wheels 21 move thesweeper will vary depending upon the manner in which the differential 54is being held. When the brake 58 is released and the differential isfree to rotate, the driving shaft 43R will not rotate if there is anyload on this shaft and the sweeper will not move forwardly for no powercan be transmitted through the differential. On the other hand, when thedifferential 54 is held stationary by the brake, the driving shaft 45Rwill rotate at the same rate as the rotation of the driven shaft 45L,but in the opposite direction. When the brake 48 is partly released topermit the housing 49 to rotate slowly, by slipping of the brake, therate of rotation of the driving shaft 45R and the movement of thesweeper will be at a reduced speed. Thus adjustments of the brake willpermit the sweeper to move forwardly at any desired speed, from a stopwhen the brake is released, to a maximum speed when the brake is fullyset. It is to be noted that the engine drive shaft must be rotated in adirection opposite to the direction of the wheel shaft 51 and in themanner as indicated by the arrows at FIG. 10.

The brake 58 is used to hold the difierential stationary or toallow itto rotate at various speeds. The differential 54 includes a cylindrical,axially centered brake cylinder 65 about its body 59. A brake band 66,of a conventional, commercially available type having conventional brakeshoes 67 within it, embraces this cylinder and is attached by a suitablelinkage to the shaft 38 of the drive control heretofore described, theattachment providing a means for tightening the brake band about thecylinder 65 responsive to rotation of this shaft 38. The brake band 66is available with cylindrical heads 68 and 68' at its ends and thelength of the band is such as to space these heads a short distanceapart, approximately 1 inch, when the band is wrapped about the cylinder65. These heads 68 and 68a are advantageously used in attaching a brakeband to the shaft 38 as will now be explained.

The linkage attaching the brake band 66 to the shaft 38 to hold thebrake band in position and to tighten it about the cylinder 65responsive to rotation of the shaft 38 may be of several varyingconstructions. One preferred construction of an attachment isillustrated at FIG. 9. This attachment consists of a pair of short, flatlinks 69 each having a hole at each end. One end of each link is mountedupon the shaft 38 to extend therefrom in spaced parallelism with theother, and the extended end of each link is attached'to one side of thebrake band head 68, farthest from the shaft 38, by inserting a bolt 70through the hole of one link, through the head 68 and thence through ahole in the end of the other link. The other brake band head 68a liesbetween the connected head and the shaft 38 as clearly illustreated atFIGS. 8 and 9.

An eccentric cylinder 71 is affixed to the shaft 38 between the links 69and is held at a normal position with the shorter side of the eccentriccontacting the shiftable head 68a when the brake band is loose upon thecylinder 65 as illustrated at FIG. 9. However, rotation of the shaft 38responsive to a pull of the cord 35 rotates the cylinder so that itslong side pushes the heads together and locks the brake as in the mannerindicated in broken lines at FIG. 9. It is contemplated that the normalposition for this brake will be in its loose state where the housing 58may rotate and where the driving shaft 45 R will remain stationary.Accordingly, to operate the sweeper to commence rotating the drivewheels, it will be necessary for the operator to shift the handle 34 insuch a manner as to pull the cord 35 and set the brake. When theoperator desires to stop the rotation of the drive wheels, he may simplyrelease the handle 34, and the brake. will release itself. To bias thebrake to the releasing position, a lever 72 is attached to the shaft 38and is resiliently pulled by a spring 73 connected to this lever and tothe frame, the lever and spring being best illustrated at FIG. 8.

With the arrangement above described, the forward speed of the sweepercan be varied to suit the operator. However, the sweeper brush itselfwill rotate at substantially the same speed at all times.

A modified form of a linkage means for tightening the brake band aboutthe cylinder is illustrated at FIG. 11. In this arrangement the brakeband head 68a is threaded upon the rod 38. A U-shaped link 69a is,

mounted upon the other brake band head 68 and a lever arm 7 Ia isaffixed to the shaft 38 at each side of the head 68a. A swivel tube 74,pivotally mounted uponeach arm Ila, is fitted upon the adjacent leg ofthe U-shaped link 69a and a nut 74a, which turns a threaded portion atthe end of each link 69a, is used to adjust the position of the swiveltube 74 upon the link 69a. In this arrangement rotation of the shaft 38will tighten the brake band about the cylinder 65, the same asheretofore described.

The sweeper hood 30 carrying this brush is formed as a pair oflongitudinally disposed, parallel, generallytriangular side plates 75which are held together by a transverse tubular strut 76 at the forwardpoint of the plates and an arcuate hood 77 extending about the upperportion of the plates. A pivot pin 78 extends laterally from each end ofthe strut and into a socket 79 in the adjacent arm 22 so that the entireassembly may swing upwardly and downwardly about this pivot pin toadjust the height of the brush above the ground and to make otheradjustments as the brush is worn. The hood 77 commences at the forwardend of the triangular plates at a location below the strut to extendthence upwardly and rearwardly as best illustrated at FIG. 5. Aresilient flap 80 is attached to the lower edge of this hood to dependtherefrom towards the ground surface at the same level as the sweeperbrush. The brush is held in bearings 81 on the side plates 75.

The sweeper brush, illustrated in a raised position in the drawing, maybe lowered to the ground surface, or at any selected elevation withrespect to the ground surface whereon the wheels of the unit set, byswinging the sweeper hood about the axisformed by pivot pins 78 and ameans is provided for adjustably raising and lowering the hood brushwithin it, as shown at FIG. 6. An elevating screw 82 upstands from oneside of the frame member 20 and is secured thereto by a locking head 83which permits it to rotate with the rotation being controlled by ahandwheel 84. A guide nut 85 carried upon this elevating screw, ispivotally secured to a yoke 86 formed by a pair of spaced plates weldedto and outstanding from the strut 76. Accordingly, manual rotation ofthe elevating screw to move the guide nut up or down will swing the yoke86 to lower or raise the hood 30.

The shaft 32 of the cylindrical brush 31, mounted upon bearings 81 inthe hood, is spaced such that rapid rotation of the brush will pick updebris, force it forwardly against the flap 80, thence up and around thehood to throw it rearwardly into the basket 33 behind the brush asindicated by the arrows at FIG. 5. The shaft 32 is operatively connectedwith the brush driving transmission shaft 46. One end of the shaft 32extends through its side plate to carry a sprocket 87. The transmissionshaft 46 also extends through the rib 40R to carry a similar sprocket 87in alignment with the brush shaft sprocket and the two areinterconnected by a chain 88. The sweeper hood is offset from a centeredposition between the arms 22 to allow a space sufficient to mountingthese sprockets and the chain upon the apparatus, as best illustrated atFIG. 3, and the chain and sprocket are closed in a U-shaped housing 89best illustrated at FIGS. 1 and 2.

The basket 33, adapted to receive debris thrown by the brush, ispreferably made of canvas or similar cloth and is in a generaltriangular form when viewed from the side as at FIG. 1. As such, thebasket consists of a pair of spaced, triangular sidewalls 90, a floorsection 91 and a back wall portion 92. The forward edge of this clothfloor section is sewn as a piping through which a rod 93 extends whilethe top edge of the back wall is also sewn as a piping witha rod 94extending through it. The rod 93 extends from each side of this basket adistance sufficient to permit it to be placed into a socket 95 at theinner wall of each upward extension 23 of the arms 22 as illustrated atFIGS. 3 and 4, this socket 95 being arranged with a hooked portion 96 topermit the rod 93 to be snapped in position. The rod 94 at the top ofthe back wall of this basket is sufficiently wide as to permit it to besecured in position upon hooks 97 on the side bars 25 of thehandle asillustrated at FIGS. 1 and 2. The piping at the forward end of the floorsection and at the top of the backwall is interrupted at the center ofthis basket by a cutout to provide gripping spaces 98 so that when abasket is removed from the sweeper, the two rods 93 and 94 may be pulledtogether and the operator may easily grip the rods at these cutouts 98to hold the ends of the basket together, and hold the basket in a closedposition to better retain the debris in the basket until it is ready tobe emptied. To permit this cloth basket to retain a desirable,triangular form when held upon the frame and handle of the sweeper,several transverse rods may be sewn into the bottom of the basket as inthe manner indicated at 99.

Many features disclosed in the sweeper, above described, can beincorporated into other equipment by changing the working element, thatis, the sweeping brush 31, as to a snowplow auger, a lawn mower reel orthe like. To do this it is necessary to rearrange the framework and theoperative components of the apparatus. However, the mechanisms whichpermit the motor and working element to operate at a maximum speed whilethe drive wheels operate at varying speeds are essentially the same asheretofore described.

FIGS. 12 to 18 illustrate a snowplow constructed according to theinvention. When compared with the sweeper, FIGS. 1 to 10, it is to benoted that the components are reversed. The snowplow auger 100 isnecessarily at the front of the machine to cut into a layer of snowwhile the sweeper brush is conveniently at the rear of the machine.Nevertheless, many of the components of the snowplow are identical, orare substantially identical, to components of the sweeper, and thisidentity is indicated in the drawing and in the description by using thesame numbers for the same parts but with prime marks when referring tothe snowplow. A further difference to be noted between the twoconstructions resides in the fact that the direction of rotation of thesnowplow 100, with respect to the rotation of the drive wheels 21', willbe opposite to the direction of rotation of the sweeper brush 31, withrespect to the rotation of its drive wheels 21. Accordingly, anadditional gear will be required in the mechanism train of the snowplowto effect this reverse in the direction of rotation.

Referring more particularly to FIGS. 12 to 18, the improved snowplow isa wheel mounted, motorized unit having a body B with the handle Hextending rearwardly from the body so the operator may push and guidethe plow ahead of him when moving along a path. The body members,consisting of plates and beams, combine to form an integrated frameworkwith the primary member being a transversely disposed beam 20 at thecentral portion of the body. The forward section of the body houses thesnowplow auger 100. The rearward section of the body carries the drivewheels 21, the motor M and the driving and control mechanisms withincompartments formed by longitudinal ribs 40L, 40R and 40C, a wall 41', acover plate 42' and deck plates 43R and 43L.

Longitudinal arms 22 extend forwardly from each end of the beam 20' tocarry the snowplow housing. The housing includes side plates 101 whichare affixed to the arms 22'. Bearings 102 in these side plates carry atransverse shaft 32' whereon the snowplow auger 100 is mounted. Acylindrical housing 103 between the side plates embraces the auger 100and is supported on the framework beam 20 by clips 104 .at the deckplates 43R and 43L. The front of the housing is open and a floor section105 extends forwardly and tangentially at the bottom thereof. To betterscoop snow into the auger opening, side wings 106 diverge from eachforward edge of the side plates 101 to provide a maw of sufficient widthas to cut a path of snow wider than the spacing of the drive wheels 21'behind the snowplow.

Skids 107 at each forward corner of the housing permit the unit to restagainst a ground or walkway surface.

The shaft 32 carries the snowplow auger 100. The auger is essentiallyconventional for snowplows and is a double, opposing helical unit havingeach side pitched towards the center of the unit with respect torotation forwardly and downwardly as into a snowbank whereinto the augermoves. This direction of rotation is indicated by the arrow a. at FIG.18. Each helical side thus joins the other at a central edge 108 to givethe auger a balanced appearance. This auger drives snow to the center ofthe unit and a discharge spout 109 is formed at the top of the housing.A swing elbow 1 10 on the spout may be turned to various positions todirect snow from the spout to either side of the unit.

The shaft 32' extends through the bearing 102 at one side of the unit toconnect with a sprocket 87', which, in turn, is connected by a chain 88to a sprocket 87' on a transverse drive shaft 46' at the rear section ofthe unit, as will be hereinafter further described. These sprockets andchain are directly above a frame arm 22' and are conveniently enclosedin a housing plate 89 as illustrated.

The box-like section at the rear of the body carries the drivemechanisms, and as heretofore mentioned, these drive mechanisms aresubstantially identical to the drive mechanisms of the sweeper bodyexcepting that they are reversed in arrangement and an extra gear memberis required to reverse the direction of rotation of the snowplow auger,as compared with the rotation of the sweeper brush. The reversing memberis a jack shaft 111, mounted in spaced bearings 112, one bearing beingat the rib 40C and another bearing being at a support clip 113, as shownin FIG. 14. A gear 114 on this shaft connects with a gear 115 on thedrive shaft 46, which, in turn, connects with the auger throughsprockets 87' and chain 88'. The drive shaft 44 of the engine M connectswith a wheel drive transmission shaft 45L'-45R and the jack shaft 111 bysprockets 48 on the shafts and a chain 49' about the sprockets.Accordingly, with the train of mechanisms above described, the engine Mis direct-connected to the auger.

The engine M is also connected to the drive wheels 21' through the wheeldrive transmission shaft 45L-45R' which, in turn, connects with thewheel shaft 51L-51R' by sprockets 55' and 56' on the respective shaftsand a chain 57' interconnecting these sprockets. As in the sweeper, thewheel shaft 51I..'-51R is divided by a differential 53' and thetransmission shaft 45I..45R is divided by a differential 54'. Rotationof the differential 54 is controlled by a brake 58, the same asheretofore described. This brake is controlled by rotation of a shaft38', as hereinafter described. For space clearance this shaft 38' isshown as being mounted in a bearing 116 on the clip 113 opposite thebearing 112, but with shaft 38 being independent of the jack shaft 111.

The handle 25 at the rear of the snowplow, is mounted upon brackets 117,on the plates 43L and 43R. A turn knob 34', on the transverse grip bar26 of handle 25, connects with a pull cord 35' in a sheath 36' whichextends to a control wheel 37' on shaft 38' as illustrated at FIG. 13.The wheel 37 is thus rotated to tighten the brake 58' to control therotation of differential 54' and a lever 72 connected to spring 73' willbias this shaft 38 to a normal brake-releasing position, all asheretofore described.

Operation of the train of mechanisms of this snowplow may be traced fromthe diagrammatic illustration at FIG. 18 where arrows indicate thedirection of rotation of the several shafts, drive wheels and the auger,and it is to be noted that by turning or releasing the knob 34' to turnwheel 37, the brake 58' will release to permit no movement of the drivewheels, or grip the differential for maximum speed of the drive wheels,or

permit slipping to attain an intermediate speed on the drive wheels.

Other apparatus may use the arrangements herein disclosed. In FIG. 19 alawn mower reel 120 is shown as being mounted upon a shaft 32". Thisreel may be carried upon an apparatus substantially the same as thesnowplow, but with the cutting reel turning against a cutter bar 121.This cutter bar will replace the floor of the snowplow housing, andcaster wheels, not shown, may replace the skid members 107. The drivemechanism is the same, however, with the shaft 32" of the reelconnecting with a sprocket 87" and with a chain 88' extending to therear of the machine.

In the modified unit, as best shown at FIG. 18, it is to be noted thatthe working element positioned in front of the wheels will rotate in thesame direction as the rotation of the wheels. Also, the lawn mower reelshown at FIG. 19 must rotate in the same manner to effectively cutagainst a cutter bar. However, if a tool suchas a brush were to beplaced in front of the wheels, it might then be desirable to rotate thebrush in a direction opposite to the direction of rotation of thewheels. To accomplish this, a mechanism may be used which can be thesame as the mechanism illustrated at FIG. 10, but the position of thecomponents will be reversed. When so reversed, the several arrows toindicate the direction of rotation of the components, as shown in thedrawing, will also be reversed.

I have now described my invention in considerable detail. However,others skilled in the art can devise and build alternate and equivalentconstructions which are nevertheless within the'spirit and scope of myinvention. Hence, I desire my protection to be limited, not by theconstructions herein shown and described, but only by the proper scopeof the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A wheel mounted yard maintenance apparatus or like device comprising,in combination with a body structure thereof:

a. an engine mounted upon the body having a drive shaft adapted torotate at a selected, substantially uniform rate;

b. a rotatable working element carried upon the body at a location whichpermits the element to be positioned for working engagement at itrotates;

c. a supporting wheel means including a driving shaft adapted to rotateand drive the apparatus;

d. a fixed speed transmission means connecting the engine shaft with theworking element to rotate the working element at a fixed rate withrespect to the uniform rotation of the engine shaft;

e. a variable speed transmission means including a driven shaftconnecting with the engine shaft to rotate at a fixed rate with respectto the uniform rotation of the engine shaft and a differential meansconnecting the driven shaft with the aforesaid driving shaft and adaptedto be set to effect rotation of the driving shaft at a selected ratewith respect to the rotation of the driven shaft; and

f. a control means at the differential means adapted to set thedifferential means to rotate the driving shaft at selected variablerates with respect to the driven shaft.

2. In the organization set forth in claim ll, wherein:

the working element is a snowplow rotor.

3. In the organization defined in claim 1, wherein:

the working element is a snowplow auger mounted transversely across thefront of the body and wherein the supporting wheel means includes atransversely disposed wheel shaft extending through the rearward portionof the body and having drive wheels at each side of the body.

4. In the organization set forth in claim 1, wherein:

the working element is a lawn cutter.

5. In the organization set forth in claim 1, wherein:

the working element is a lawn mower reel mounted transversely across thefront of the body;

a cutter bar at the base of the reel; and wherein the supporting wheelmeans includes a transversely disposed wheel shaft extending through therearward portion of the body and having drive wheels at each side of thebody.

6. In the organization set forth in claim 1, wherein the driven shaftand the driving shaft are in axial alignment and the differential meansis rotatably carried upon said shafts and includes a cylindrical portionhaving its axis congruent with the shaft axis, and including further:

a brake means having a band embracing the cylindrical portion torestrain rotation of the differential means;

said actuating means being adapted to tighten the brake means about thecylinder with selective pressure to permit the differential means torotate at variable speeds and to remain stationary, whereby to vary therate of rotation of the driving shaft with respect to the driven shaft.

7. In the organization set forth in claim 6, wherein:

said brake actuating means includes a manually operated linkage adaptedto tighten said brake band about the differential and a biased meansadapted to release said brake band when the manually operated linkage isreleased by the operator.

8. In the organization set forth in claim 6, wherein:

each shaft is connected to a gear within the differential means and eachgear is interconnected to the other by an idler gear carried on thedifferential means, whereby the driving shaft rotates oppositely to therotation of the driven shaft when the differential is prevented fromrotating, but the driving shaft does not rotate when the differential isfree to rotate.

9. In the organization set forth in claim 6, wherein:

said engine shaft, said wheel shaft, said driven shaft and said drivingshaft are arranged in spaced parallelism, with the driven shaft and thedriving shaft being on a common axial alignment;

gear means in the differential means adapted to cause the driving shaftto rotate in a direction opposite to the rotation of the driven shaftwhen the differential unit is held against rotation and to remainstationary when the differential unit is free to rotate; and

chain connections directly between the driving shaft and wheel shaft,the engine shaft and driven shaft and the engine shaft and aforesaidworking element, whereby the wheel shaft will rotate in a directionopposite to the direction of rotation of the working element.

10. In the organization set forth in claim 6, wherein:

said engine shaft, said wheel shaft, said driven shaft and said drivingshaft are arranged in spaced parallelism, with the driven shaft and thedriving shaft being on a common axial alignment;

gear means in the differential means adapted to cause the driving shaftto rotate in a direction opposite to the rotation of the driven shaftwhen the differential unit is held against rotation and to remainstationary when the differential unit is free to rotate; and

chain connections directly between the driving shaft and wheel shaft,the engine shaft and driven shaft and the engine shaft and aforesaidworking element, wherein said chain connections are interrupted by agear connection between the engine shaft and the aforesaid workingelement, whereby the wheel shaft will rotate in the same direction asthe rotation of the working element.

11. In the organization set forth in claim 9, wherein:

said body structure is formed as a forward and rearward portion with theengine being mounted upon the forward portion thereof, with said workingelement being mounted at the rearward portion thereof, and with saiddrive shaft and transmission means being mounted within the forwardportion of the unit.

12. In the organization set forth in claim 9, wherein:

said body structure is formed as a forward and rearward portion with theengine being mounted upon the rearward portion thereof, with saidworking element being mounted at the forward portion thereof, and withsaid drive shaft and transmission means being mounted within therearward portion of the unit.

13. A driving system having an engine adapted to operate with its outputshaft rotating at a selected, substantially uniform rate;

a. a rotatable working element connected to the engine shaft to rotatewith rotation of the engine shaft;

b. a rotatable drive element to drive the system and including a drivingshaft;

c. a variable speed transmission means including a driven shaftconnecting with the engine shaft, a rotatable differential means betweenthe driven shaft and the aforesaid driving shaft to effect rotation ofthe driving shaft at varying selected rates with respect to the rotationof the driven shaft; and

d. a control means at the differential means adapted to set thedifferential means to rotate the driving shaft at selected variablerates with respect to the driven shaft.

14. In the organization set forth in claim 13, wherein:

the control means includes a brake means to restrain the rotation of thedifferential means; and

a means adapted to actuate the brake means.

15. In the organization defined in claim 13, wherein:

said driven shaft and said driving shaft are on a common axialalignment; and

gear means in the differential means adapted to cause the driving shaftto rotate in a direction opposite to the rotation of the driven shaftwhen the difi'erential unit is held against rotation and to remainstationary when the differential unit is free to rotate.

1. A wheel mounted yard maintenance apparatus or like device comprising,in combination with a body structure thereof: a. an engine moUnted uponthe body having a drive shaft adapted to rotate at a selected,substantially uniform rate; b. a rotatable working element carried uponthe body at a location which permits the element to be positioned forworking engagement at it rotates; c. a supporting wheel means includinga driving shaft adapted to rotate and drive the apparatus; d. a fixedspeed transmission means connecting the engine shaft with the workingelement to rotate the working element at a fixed rate with respect tothe uniform rotation of the engine shaft; e. a variable speedtransmission means including a driven shaft connecting with the engineshaft to rotate at a fixed rate with respect to the uniform rotation ofthe engine shaft and a differential means connecting the driven shaftwith the aforesaid driving shaft and adapted to be set to effectrotation of the driving shaft at a selected rate with respect to therotation of the driven shaft; and f. a control means at the differentialmeans adapted to set the differential means to rotate the driving shaftat selected variable rates with respect to the driven shaft.
 2. In theorganization set forth in claim 1, wherein: the working element is asnowplow rotor.
 3. In the organization defined in claim 1, wherein: theworking element is a snowplow auger mounted transversely across thefront of the body and wherein the supporting wheel means includes atransversely disposed wheel shaft extending through the rearward portionof the body and having drive wheels at each side of the body.
 4. In theorganization set forth in claim 1, wherein: the working element is alawn cutter.
 5. In the organization set forth in claim 1, wherein: theworking element is a lawn mower reel mounted transversely across thefront of the body; a cutter bar at the base of the reel; and wherein thesupporting wheel means includes a transversely disposed wheel shaftextending through the rearward portion of the body and having drivewheels at each side of the body.
 6. In the organization set forth inclaim 1, wherein the driven shaft and the driving shaft are in axialalignment and the differential means is rotatably carried upon saidshafts and includes a cylindrical portion having its axis congruent withthe shaft axis, and including further: a brake means having a bandembracing the cylindrical portion to restrain rotation of thedifferential means; said actuating means being adapted to tighten thebrake means about the cylinder with selective pressure to permit thedifferential means to rotate at variable speeds and to remainstationary, whereby to vary the rate of rotation of the driving shaftwith respect to the driven shaft.
 7. In the organization set forth inclaim 6, wherein: said brake actuating means includes a manuallyoperated linkage adapted to tighten said brake band about thedifferential and a biased means adapted to release said brake band whenthe manually operated linkage is released by the operator.
 8. In theorganization set forth in claim 6, wherein: each shaft is connected to agear within the differential means and each gear is interconnected tothe other by an idler gear carried on the differential means, wherebythe driving shaft rotates oppositely to the rotation of the driven shaftwhen the differential is prevented from rotating, but the driving shaftdoes not rotate when the differential is free to rotate.
 9. In theorganization set forth in claim 6, wherein: said engine shaft, saidwheel shaft, said driven shaft and said driving shaft are arranged inspaced parallelism, with the driven shaft and the driving shaft being ona common axial alignment; gear means in the differential means adaptedto cause the driving shaft to rotate in a direction opposite to therotation of the driven shaft when the differential unit is held againstrotation and to remain stationary when the differential unit is free torotate; and chain connections dIrectly between the driving shaft andwheel shaft, the engine shaft and driven shaft and the engine shaft andaforesaid working element, whereby the wheel shaft will rotate in adirection opposite to the direction of rotation of the working element.10. In the organization set forth in claim 6, wherein: said engineshaft, said wheel shaft, said driven shaft and said driving shaft arearranged in spaced parallelism, with the driven shaft and the drivingshaft being on a common axial alignment; gear means in the differentialmeans adapted to cause the driving shaft to rotate in a directionopposite to the rotation of the driven shaft when the differential unitis held against rotation and to remain stationary when the differentialunit is free to rotate; and chain connections directly between thedriving shaft and wheel shaft, the engine shaft and driven shaft and theengine shaft and aforesaid working element, wherein said chainconnections are interrupted by a gear connection between the engineshaft and the aforesaid working element, whereby the wheel shaft willrotate in the same direction as the rotation of the working element. 11.In the organization set forth in claim 9, wherein: said body structureis formed as a forward and rearward portion with the engine beingmounted upon the forward portion thereof, with said working elementbeing mounted at the rearward portion thereof, and with said drive shaftand transmission means being mounted within the forward portion of theunit.
 12. In the organization set forth in claim 9, wherein: said bodystructure is formed as a forward and rearward portion with the enginebeing mounted upon the rearward portion thereof, with said workingelement being mounted at the forward portion thereof, and with saiddrive shaft and transmission means being mounted within the rearwardportion of the unit.
 13. A driving system having an engine adapted tooperate with its output shaft rotating at a selected, substantiallyuniform rate; a. a rotatable working element connected to the engineshaft to rotate with rotation of the engine shaft; b. a rotatable driveelement to drive the system and including a driving shaft; c. a variablespeed transmission means including a driven shaft connecting with theengine shaft, a rotatable differential means between the driven shaftand the aforesaid driving shaft to effect rotation of the driving shaftat varying selected rates with respect to the rotation of the drivenshaft; and d. a control means at the differential means adapted to setthe differential means to rotate the driving shaft at selected variablerates with respect to the driven shaft.
 14. In the organization setforth in claim 13, wherein: the control means includes a brake means torestrain the rotation of the differential means; and a means adapted toactuate the brake means.
 15. In the organization defined in claim 13,wherein: said driven shaft and said driving shaft are on a common axialalignment; and gear means in the differential means adapted to cause thedriving shaft to rotate in a direction opposite to the rotation of thedriven shaft when the differential unit is held against rotation and toremain stationary when the differential unit is free to rotate.